Classroom based education as we know it is on hold because of COVID-19 and teachers have been reaching out to families on how best to offer supplemental learning.(file photo/paNOW)

By Glenn Hicks

COVID-19

COVID-19 ushers in whole new world of student education

Apr 5, 2020 | 8:00 AM

Local teachers – like their counterparts across the country- are trying to get up to speed on a whole new way of doing their job as they prepare supplemental opportunities for students.

We’re really building their education system from the ground up _{– Lorel Trumier}

This past week, teachers reached out to families to discuss how best to offer learning opportunities – online or otherwise – given the indefinite closure of schools. There has already been an uptake by some students and an expectation among administrators that things will pick up in the coming weeks as things become more refined.

“We’re really building their education system from the ground up; this COVID-19 has been a major disruptor to our normal processes,” Lorel Trumier, the director of education with the Prince Albert Catholic School Division told paNOW.

But she added the challenges they’re facing create a renewed focus.

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“It’ll make us understand succinctly where to put the emphasis and where to prioritize learning opportunities for students,” she said.

Sharing bandwidth and computer time

Trumier explained teachers were rolling out one increment of package for students each week that would go out on a Monday morning and the response they were getting from students and families had been very positive. She noted in this time of isolation at home, families may need to share bandwidth and computer time, especially with parents also needing to get their online work done. So, students were being given the whole week to attend to their learning segments rather than it being a day by day situation.

Familes are saying ‘ how are you doing as a teacher? This must be very hard for you.’ _{– Robert Bratvold}

Meanwhile, the Saskatchewan Rivers Public School Division (SRPSD) said by Friday the majority of their families had been contacted regarding supplemental learning and most wanted to participate. The preferred delivery method for these lessons is tech-based.

However, the division’s director of education Robert Bratvold noted as teachers reached out to families during the week, there was a powerful human element to those conversations.

“Families were asking ‘how are you doing as a teacher? This must be very hard for you,’” He told paNOW that exchange had been very positive along with the extensive desire for the supplemental learning program.

Vulnerable students

While the vast majority of students will be using tech for their learning Bratvold and Trumier explained they were still awaiting guidance from the Chief Medical Officer of Health regarding how students who preferred paper-based learning material could get that. It wasn’t yet clear if that would be picked up at school or delivered.

Another issue facing educators in these extraordinary times is how best to assist those vulnerable and socio-economically challenged students who may benefit from the routine of being in a classroom setting each day.

“Our staff have done a lot of innovative and creative things during regular school time to reach out and connect with those families,” Bratvold said. “We have counsellors and social workers in all of our schools, and those folks are able to reach out by phone to the vast majority of students who may really need that check-in.”

Trumier with the Catholic School Division summed up the challenges everyone is facing during this unprecedented public health crisis, especially in terms of how to connect with all students given the school shutdown.

“We’re all still trying to reset ourselves to this new norm …we signed up to be with children and work with them … but we also know right here, right now our greatest professional responsibility is to make sure those children are safe and we’re not spreading COVID-19.”

–

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow